California Cracks Down on Price Gouging in Wake of LA Wildfires

State officials charge a real estate agent and issue warnings to hundreds of landlords as displaced residents face soaring housing costs.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has charged a Los Angeles real estate agent with price gouging after allegedly raising a rental price by 38% following recent wildfires.
The devastating wildfires, which began on January 7, have destroyed thousands of homes and displaced many families, creating a housing crisis in an already tight rental market.
State law prohibits raising rental prices by more than 10% during an emergency, and Governor Gavin Newsom extended these protections until January 2026.
Over 500 warning letters have been sent to landlords and hotels accused of price gouging, with additional investigations and charges expected to follow.
Platforms like Zillow and Redfin have taken steps to remove listings suspected of violating price-gouging laws, urging users to report illegal activity to authorities.